How to pronounce destress
Say it like dee-STRES. Destress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce destress. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dee
- STRES
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Destress pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- deeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- STRESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of destress
American and British speakers say destress in essentially the same way: /ˌdiˈstrɛs/ in the US and /ˌdiːˈstrɛs/ in the UK.
British respelling: dee-STRES.
What does destress mean?
- To reduce the physical stresses in (a material).
- To reduce the emotional stress in (another person); to reduce the stress in oneself.
- To reduce the emphasis or stress on; de-emphasize.
Where does destress come from?
From de- + stress.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with destress
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of destress.
Questions about saying destress
How do you pronounce destress?
Say dee-STRES. The American pronunciation is /ˌdiˈstrɛs/. In British English it is /ˌdiːˈstrɛs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in destress?
Destress has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRES). Broken into parts: dee · STRES.
Do Americans and Brits say destress the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌdiˈstrɛs/ and the British form is /ˌdiːˈstrɛs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.